Posts Tagged ‘Noodle’

I was just informed at our family dinner yesterday that we will not be repeating the Purple Christmas Tree of last year. Actually, it felt like an intervention of sorts. Mom and Dad made a big, wonderful dinner. Dave and Sara were there. Russ looked into my eyes and said, “We still have purple dust in the living room.” Both daughters nodded silently. (We don’t.)

So, I am sad to say, the purple flocked tree may be, instead of a new holiday tradition, only a memory. Because I will only have a plain old pine tree to show you this year, and because this is an especially cute picture of all three dogs together, I have posted here my favorite picture from Christmas 2009.

Ebony, Joy and Noodle, Christmas 2009

“What Happened to Russ”

Also, perhaps only a memory…my favorite Sunday School craft ever: Peanut Baby Jesus. Russ and I teach three to five year old Sunday School at Westwood Church. For the past several years, we have made Peanut Baby Jesus with the kids. (We stole the idea from the awesome teachers of Two Year Old Sunday School after our oldest daughter came home with one years ago.)

Last year, we had one child in our class with a peanut allergy. Being kindhearted, anti-anaphylaxis types, we thought it would be a good idea to use a shortened wooden clothespin for Peanut Allergy Kid’s Peanut Baby Jesus.

Russ is a carpenter…with no saws at church. But there were steak knives. Never say “whatever” when you are choosing appropriate tools for a task. Russ tried to cut off the end of the clothespin, sliced his thumb, could not get the cut to stop bleeding (even with top-of-the-line veterinary intervention) and ended up at Urgent Care with several stitches. He still has a scar.

Peanut Baby Jesus: Materials: Bottom half of a disposable cup, squares of brown paper, craft hay, scrap of cloth, peanut, Sharpie, glue. Assembly: Glue the brown paper squares around the outside of the half cup. Fill the “manger” with hay. Draw a face on the peanut and place the scrap of cloth over Peanut Baby Jesus. Place Peanut Baby Jesus in his manger.

SAFETY NOTES: Use kids’ safety scissors to cut the cup in half and cut the paper and cloth. Also, if you have a kid with peanut allergies in your group, choose a different craft!

You already know to keep your pets safe from scary, scary trick-or-treaters and even scarier Halloween candy. And you know not to dress up a dog or cat or guinea pig with any objections to the celebration of Halloween, moral or otherwise.*

So instead of a list of pet safety tips, I present you with…The cutest set of Dominoes you will ever see in your whole entire life ever.

*Max the Cat decided to sit this one out. He would not have matched the set anyways.

Piggy is the zero-zero Domino! Ha! I sprayed a quick (non-toxic!) line, snapped a picture and gave him a quick piggy bath. He was mildly offended, and I was regretting involving him at even that five second level (we both were) until he saw his handful of cornflakes reward. He is SO on board for participating in Halloween 2011!

Next up, Noodle the Poodle. He was less inclined to be bribed by food, but was a relatively good sport non-the-less. He was one-two, but did not want to show his whole costume. Cute butt though, huh?

Joy the Puppy!

Joy and Ebony…Russ thought we should have them lay down at right angles for a picture (you know, like in a real Domino game…) I thought they were doing well to lay on the same blanket at the same time without wandering off!

And the (almost) complete set! By this time, Piggy was already back home happily eating his cornflakes, scruff still damp and sticking straight up. I’d include a picture of that cuteness, but as you know, I have a difficult time getting good photos of our black pets. I would say the morning went remarkably well.

We saw tons of gorgeous dogs and between us could identify all but one by breed (a BEAUTIFUL huge Great Dane shaped dog with tan and dark brown Mastiff-like markings). We saw lots of friends and pet companies and rescue groups we love…

♥ ♥ ♥ Good to see you! ♥ ♥ ♥

Last we heard, Nebraska Humane Society was very close to meeting their fund-raising goals for the day. That will help so many pets!! Thank you SO MUCH for supporting Family Finch and the Nebraska Humane Society!